Discovery Foundation Awards honour exceptional healthcare professionals in 2024

• The Discovery Foundation has reached its R300 million investment milestone, achieving a 72% Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) target directed towards black beneficiaries.
• To date, the Foundation has funded up to 10% of the sub-specialists training posts in South Africa and currently awards more than 75% of its annual grants to black recipients as part of its transformation-led strategy.
• Since its inception in 2006, the Foundation has invested over R320 million towards, providing over 550 training and research grants aimed at strengthening the public healthcare system in South Africa.

4 November 2024, Johannesburg – The Discovery Foundation has proudly announced the recipients of its annual medical research and training grants for 2024 during an awards ceremony that celebrated the commitment and achievements of South Africa’s healthcare professionals. The awards recognise exceptional South African medical specialists, researchers, and institutions dedicated to enhancing healthcare across the country, particularly in underserved and rural areas.

Discovery Foundation Conference 2024: Innovative care strategies and challenges

Before the awards ceremony to celebrate this year’s alumni, delegates, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders convened at the Discovery Foundation Conference. This event has served as a valuable platform for alumni to connect, share insights, and showcase diverse research supported by the Foundation.

The 2024 conference focused on the theme “Developing a Skilled Healthcare Workforce for Innovative Care: Strategies and Challenges,” addressing ongoing issues such as staffing shortages, budget constraints, and disparities in access to care.

The conference featured a welcome address by Dr Maurice Goodman, Foundation Trustee and Discovery Health Chief Medical Officer, who discussed the Foundation’s impact since its inception while also highlighting the need to retain and support healthcare professionals in underserved areas. Keynote speaker and Discovery Health CEO, Dr Ron Whelan, gave an insightful talk on the future of healthcare and the importance of innovation. In his keynote address Whelan said, “As healthcare leaders, we need to interchangeably look at healthcare through a microscope and through a telescope. Sometimes you have to zoom in to solve specific problems, and other times you have look into the future. Today I’d like us to focus on looking through the telescope to view the future of healthcare in South Africa,” emphasising the importance of building on the strengths of South Africa’s healthcare system and new developments in technology, big data and artificial intelligence to propel the health system forward.

Notable conference speakers included Dr Percy Mahlati - Deputy Director General: National Department of Health - and ProfessorArthur Rantloane - Emeritus Professor: Anaesthesiology at the University of Pretoria; Vice-Chair: HPCSA's Medical and Dental Professions Board; Chairman: HPCSA Medical Education Training and Registration committee - who led a panel discussion on “Overcoming Challenges in Healthcare Training”, with the discussion focusing on policy and regulations, as well as budget constraints and funding. Dr Mahlati and Prof Rantloane agreed that “the aim is to have more collaboration and less competition in training institutions as a way to improve the overall healthcare system in South Africa.”

Professor Vanessa Burch - Executive Director: CMSA Education and Assessment - spoke about “Successful Strategies in Workforce Training”. She highlighted the importance of trustworthiness for trainees and how this can be effectively assessed. “While capability is important, it’s not all there is. Being competent is not enough, it’s about training people to have agency, humility – the ability to say when you need help, receive feedback and the ability to make decisions that trainees can be trusted with to care for patients. This means we need many observations, by many people to assess the competency levels of trainees. This is how we effectively affect the careers of future healthcare professionals,” she said. This perspective of doing things differently was echoed by Dr Raymond Campbell - CEO of Phulikisa Health Solutions - “To say that we’re going to do things a certain way because that’s how they’ve been done in the past is no longer going to work for the future of medicine,” emphasising the need for critical skills to shift from prevention to pre-emptive care, and how this is a shared responsibility with patients.

On the topic of “Understanding the national health research landscape and ushering the next generation of researchers and innovators”, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Chair of the National Health Research Committee (NHRC), Professor Mushi Matjila, said: “The mandate of the committee is to have an integrated national strategy for health research priorities,” adding that “we should remind ourselves that unless we’re champions of the issues we’re trying to solve, our efforts are not going to lead to tangible results”. Closing off the proceedings was Professor Nasreen Mahomed - a Specialist Radiologist and Associate Professor of Radiology and Academic Head of Radiology at the University of Witwatersrand. Prof Mahomed discussed the vision for the future, looking at collaborative approaches to healthcare education from an African perspective.

Key insights from the conference highlighted the essential themes for advancing South Africa’s healthcare system. Discussions centred on the future of healthcare, emphasising the need to embrace innovation and skill development to tackle existing challenges. Participants addressed the obstacles in healthcare training, the importance of identifying critical skills for tomorrow’s healthcare providers was highlighted, alongside successful strategies in workforce training that showcase effective programmes and their outcomes across various healthcare settings. Additionally, the conference explored the critical need to foster innovation through education by integrating technology and implementing innovative practices to enhance healthcare services. The conference speakers’ ideas all had similar themes that centred around a collaborative approach to healthcare education as a vision for the future, aiming to create a more interconnected and responsive healthcare workforce.

Discovery Foundation Awards 2024

Since its establishment nearly two decades ago, the Discovery Foundation has been a driving force in strengthening the South Africa’s healthcare sector. A total of over 550 awards have been granted to date, benefiting both individuals and institutions. Of these, 290 awards have been allocated to predominantly black medical specialists in the public sector, while 150 awards have supported institutions focused on training. Furthermore, the Foundation has reached its R300 million investment milestone, achieving a 72% Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) target in terms of spending and rand value directed towards black beneficiaries.

Dr Vincent Maphai, Chairperson of the Discovery Foundation, highlighted how this year’s recipients are making a difference by incorporating technology into quality healthcare. “Each year, the Discovery Foundation Awards bring to light remarkable individuals who are not only excelling in their fields but also pushing the boundaries of medical research and care. These doctors and specialists demonstrate resilience and ingenuity, contributing to some of the most pressing healthcare challenges of our time — palliative care, healthcare digitisation, and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into medical practices,” said Dr Maphai, emphasising how all these advances are all in service of the population.

This year’s awards reflect the Foundation’s commitment to addressing the urgent need for skilled medical professionals in South Africa, particularly within the public healthcare system. The grants provide essential support for doctors, researchers, and specialists working to strengthen healthcare delivery, especially in underserved areas where access to adequate services is often limited. This includes the MGH Fellowship Award, which offers recipients a one-year residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, providing invaluable supervision and exposure to leading research environments.

Head of Corporate Social Investment at Discovery, Andronica Mabuya, reinforces the Foundation’s dedication to uplifting the public healthcare system. “Despite South Africa’s proud legacy of medical innovation, many communities still lack access to quality healthcare. The Discovery Foundation is committed to changing this reality by ensuring affordable, high-quality healthcare for all. The achievements of our award recipients this year demonstrate the incredible potential within our healthcare system. Their research and clinical practices are vital in bridging gaps in healthcare delivery.”

With nearly 20 years of investment and growth, in addition to its focus on healthcare, the Discovery Foundation is committed to sustainability. As a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact since 2015, the Foundation upholds the call to end poverty, protect the planet, and improve lives worldwide. “The concept of sustainability goes beyond environmental considerations; it is fundamentally linked to the creation of resilient systems that guarantee equitable access to healthcare for all individuals, regardless of their location or circumstances,” explains Mabuya.

Over the years, the Discovery Foundation funding has impacted and collaborated with many talented professionals, whose achievements continue to have an indelible effect on South Africa’s healthcare system. Notably, this year Professor Mosa Moshabela – who received the Discovery Foundation Academic Fellowship Award in 2009 to pursue his PhD in public health, focusing on HIV and AIDS – was appointed Vice Chancellor at the University of Cape Town. Additionally, Professor Salome Maswime, a 2018 MGH Fellowship Award recipient, was recently announced as Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre at the University of Cape Town, which will significantly influence maternal healthcare across Africa.

What began with an investment of R100 million to support the development of 300 healthcare professionals has grown significantly, with the Foundation now surpassing R320 million in grants. By 2026, the aim is to have trained and supported 600 specialists and institutions who will contribute to the improvement of healthcare across the country. Recipients of the Discovery Foundation Award are required to serve in the public sector for a minimum of two years following the completion of their training. More than 60% of the Foundation’s alumni choose to remain in the public sector even after fulfilling their contractual obligations.

The impact of the Discovery Foundation’s grants extends beyond financial support; they foster a collaborative environment where healthcare professionals can thrive and make a lasting impact in their communities. Dr Maphai concludes, “The recipients of the Discovery Foundation Awards represent the future leaders in our healthcare sector. With their focus on academic medicine, specialist training, and rural healthcare, these investments will benefit South Africa for many years to come.”

The 2023/2024 Discovery Foundation Award categories and recipients

The awards are given in four main categories:

• Academic Fellowship Awards that promote research-focused training in academic medicine to develop more clinician scientists in South Africa
• Sub-specialist Awards that promote training, research and development in health faculties in South Africa
• Individual awards for healthcare for rural and underserved areas
• Institutional awards for healthcare in rural and underserved areas

The 2024 Discovery Foundation Awards encompass several categories, celebrating a diverse group of healthcare professionals who are making significant contributions to the field. The recipients of this year’s awards are as follows:

Academic fellowship awards

1. Dr Nondumiso Dlamini – Radiological assessment of breast cancer in young South African women (40 years) and the use of artificial intelligence to improve early detection of breast cancer in this population.

2. Dr Tshilidzi Van der Iecq – Current research focuses on the Epidemiology of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in South Africa, one of the most common eye conditions affecting

premature infants and a potentially preventable cause of blindness.

3. Dr Fusi Godwin Madela – Cytokine response and severity stratification of acute pancreatitis in HIV seropositive patients in KwaZulu-Natal.

4. Dr Yakheka Dyasi – Interventions to improve the quality of patients’ lives post-critical care admission in public and private health facilities in the Eastern Cape (QoL PAC Study).

5. Dr Cascia Day – ACE-inhibitor angioedema biomarkers and genetics, aiming to predict which patients are at risk of developing life-threatening reactions to common blood pressure medications.

Individual awards for healthcare in rural and underserved areas

1. Dr Jennifer Kent – An exploration of the reasons behind poor cervical cancer screening uptake in rural Eastern Cape.

2. Dr Nangamso Malashe – Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding contraception among women seeking termination of pregnancy services in the KSD sub-district, Eastern Cape.

3. Dr Sibusiso Mbili – Exploring the prevalence and characteristics of cardiac diseases

among pregnant women at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, in the Eastern Cape.

4. Dr Kgothatso Mothapo – Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and associated risk factors in Madombidhza Village, Vhembe District, Limpopo Province.

5. Dr Christopher Westwood – Assessing the effectiveness of decentralised antenatal ultrasound compared to a hospital-based service at a clinic in rural South Africa.

6. Dr Amanda Dlamini – Antiretroviral drug resistance testing among patients on second-line therapy in a tertiary hospital in Tshwane.

Institutional awards for healthcare in rural and underserved areas

1. Dr Jacobus A. van Rooy – The development of a rural training platform to improve the quality and delivery of healthcare through support for capacity building of healthcare workers in the Central Karoo district.

2. Prof Gert Marincowitz – Expansion of the implementation of quality palliative care in Limpopo Province.

3. Dr Rihangwele Mukhinindi – Development of cancer awareness, screening, and care, and training healthcare workers on cancer screening specifics.

4. Prof Thozama Dubula – Database of patients seen at the rheumatology clinic and further education and training on prevalent conditions.

5. Dr Janet Stanford – Project expansion addressing the pressing need for compassionate, holistic palliative care for terminally ill patients at the Knysna Sedgefield Hospice.

Sub-specialist awards

1. Dr Petrus Thabo Mogotlane – Training to become one of South Africa’s first black addiction psychiatrists, focused on addressing the roots of addiction.

2. Dr Darlene Boakye – Research on maternal and fetal outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease, at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital.

3. Dr Vashini Pillay – Specialisation in paediatric infectious diseases at Red Cross Memorial Hospital, focusing on treating infections like TB and HIV in children.